Drew blasts go-ahead homer as Diamondbacks top Cubs

Jul 21, 2007 - 10:00 PM
CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Stephen Drew snapped an eighth-inning tie
with a solo home run and the bullpen tossed five scoreless
innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks held on for a 3-2 victory
over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon.

Orlando Hudson had three hits and an RBI for the Diamondbacks,
who won for just the second time in their last seven games.

Drew blasted a towering one-out homer - his sixth of the season
- into the right field seats off Cubs reliever Bobby Howry (5-5)
to snap a 2-2 tie in the eighth. The Diamondbacks' bullpen made
it stand up.

"He (Howry) didn't want to walk me in that situation," Drew
said. "I tried to find a pitch I could handle and I did."

Starter Micah Owings struggled with his control, allowing two
runs and four hits, while striking out three and walking three.
The righthander, who has lost each of his last four starts,
continued his troubles.

"I need to try and continue to hit my spots," Owings said. "I
have to try and come inside more."

Juan Cruz (4-1), former Cub, then hurled three scoreless
innings, bridging the gap to Tony Pena in the eighth and
All-Star Jose Valverde, who recorded his 29th save, retiring
Cliff Floyd with the tying run on base in the ninth.

"I was feeling good in the on-deck circle," Floyd said. "As a
hitter, all you want is a chance to tie or win the game, it just
didn't happen today."

Mark DeRosa worked a one-out walk, but Angel Pagan grounded into
a fielder's choice and Floyd popped out to the catcher to end
the threat in a tense ninth.

"It was nice to win a one run game," Diamondbacks manager Bob
Melvin said. "We have been getting beat by home runs, and it's
nice to win one that way."

Arizona started the scoring in the first. Chris Young reached
on a two-base error by Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez, and
then stole third and scored on Hudson's ground ball to
shortstop.

Chicago took the lead in the fourth thanks to Jacque Jones, who
led off the frame with a double. DeRosa then walked and Pagan
scored both runners with a booming triple to right field to make
it 2-1.

"We really didn't swing the bats today," DeRosa said. "When
that happens, you have a small margin for error."

Eric Byrnes tied the game in the top of the fifth with a
fielder's choice grounder.

Rich Hill yielded two runs - one earned - and six hits in six
frames, while striking out six and walking four for the Cubs,
who had their three-game winning streak snapped.

"They fouled off a lot of pitches and ran up my pitch count,"
Hill said. "I guess we are all surprised when we lose a game,
because we have been playing so well."

It was a rare loss for Chicago (51-45), which now is 29-14 since
June 3 to get back in the race in the National League Central
Division.

"Give those other guys credit," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.
"They pitched the ball well, and they got the big hit. We just
move on from here."